Funding hint for Brandywell?

While the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuílin, did not explicitly promise any funding to improve the stadium during 2013, she did state: “We need to do a bit of heavy lifting to help it out.”

Speaking at Stormont yesterday, Ms Ní Chuílin also “put it on record that the vandalism that happened in the Brandywell was disgraceful.”

She had been asked by SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan whether the potential of the North-West region could be “further capitalised on if the Brandywell stadium were improved?”

She replied: “A bid has not been put in by the Brandywell, or by Derry City Council for the Brandywell, as part of 2013, although I am well aware of the situation. For the record, Derry City Council and the Brandywell will be talking to the IFA and others about the proposed bid for subregional development for 2015 and beyond. I also put on record that the vandalism that happened in the Brandywell was disgraceful.

“Despite the success of Derry City... the Brandywell’s facilities are not fit for purpose. The city of Derry needs to help the Brandywell to improve its facilities. It is unfortunate that a small minority of people felt that the Brandywell was an easy target.

“We need to do a bit of heavy lifting to help it out. I cannot guarantee anything for the Brandywell or anybody else for 2013, but I certainly know what the Brandywell is. For some strange reason, every time I am in Derry city, I happen to walk past it at least twice, so I know where it is and what it sits beside.”